FR Doc E9-1263[Federal Register: January 23, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 14)]
[Notices]
[Page 4151-4155]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23ja09-29]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview
Information; Indian Education--Professional Development Grants
Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY)
2009.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.299B.
Dates:
Applications Available: January 23, 2009.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 3, 2009.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 4, 2009.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Professional Development
program is to (1) increase the number of qualified Indian individuals
in professions that serve Indians; (2) provide training to qualified
Indian individuals to become teachers, administrators, teacher aides,
social workers, and ancillary educational personnel; and (3) improve
the skills of qualified Indian individuals who serve in the education
field. Activities may include, but are not limited to, continuing
education programs, symposia, workshops, conferences, and direct
financial support.
Priorities: This competition contains two absolute priorities and
two competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priorities are from the regulations for
this program (34 CFR 263.5(c)). In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(ii) and (iv), the competitive preference priorities are
from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 263.5(a) and (b)).
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2009, these priorities are absolute
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications
that meet one or both of the following priorities.
These priorities are:
Absolute Priority One--Pre-Service Training for Teachers
A project that provides support and training to Indian individuals
in completing a pre-service education program that enables these
individuals to meet the requirements for full State certification or
licensure as a teacher through--
(i)(A) Training that leads to a bachelor's degree in education
before the end of the award period; or
(B) For States allowing a degree in a specific subject area,
training that leads to a bachelor's degree in the subject area so long
as the training meets the requirements for full State teacher
certification or licensure; or
(C) Training in a current or new specialized teaching assignment
that requires at least a bachelor's degree and in which a documented
teacher shortage exists; and
(ii) One-year induction services after graduation, certification,
or licensure, provided during the award period to graduates of the pre-
service program while they are completing their first year of work in
local educational agencies (LEAs) with at least five percent American
Indian/Alaska Native student populations.
Note: In working with various institutions of higher education
and State certification/licensure requirements, we have found that
States requiring a degree in a specific subject area (e.g.,
specialty areas or teaching at the secondary level) generally
require a master's degree or completion of a five-year program
before an individual can be certified or licensed as a teacher.
Students pursuing those credentials would be eligible to participate
so long as their training meets the requirements for full State
certification or licensure as a teacher.
Note: We clarify that, to meet the requirements of this
priority, the degree received as a result of training and the one
year of induction services are to be completed prior to the end of
the award period.
Absolute Priority Two--Pre-Service Administrator Training
A project that provides--
(1) Support and training to Indian individuals to complete a
master's degree in education administration that is provided before the
end of the award period and that allows participants to meet the
requirements for State certification or licensure as an education
administrator; and
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(2) One year of induction services, during the award period, to
participants after graduation, certification, or licensure, while they
are completing their first year of work as administrators in schools
with a significant Indian student population.
Note: We clarify that, to meet the requirements of this
priority, the degree received as a result of training and the one
year of induction services are to be completed prior to the end of
the award period.
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2009, these priorities
are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we
award up to an additional 10 points to an application, depending on how
well the application meets one or both of these priorities.
These priorities are:
Competitive Preference Priority One
We award five points to an application submitted by an Indian
tribe, Indian organization, or Indian institution of higher education
that is eligible to participate in the Professional Development
program. A consortium application of eligible entities that meets the
requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 of the Education
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) and includes an
Indian tribe, Indian organization, or Indian institution of higher
education will be considered eligible to receive the five competitive
preference points. The consortium agreement, signed by all parties,
must be submitted with the application in order for the application to
be considered a consortium application.
Competitive Preference Priority Two
We award five points to an application submitted by a consortium of
eligible applicants that includes a tribal college or university and
that designates that tribal college or university as the fiscal agent
for the application. The consortium application of eligible entities
must meet the requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 of EDGAR to
be eligible to receive the five competitive preference points. These
points are in addition to the five competitive preference points that
may be awarded under Competitive Preference Priority One. The
consortium agreement, signed by all parties, must be submitted with the
application in order for the application to be considered a consortium
application.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7442.
Applicable Regulations: (a) EDGAR in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79,
80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The regulations for this
program in 34 CFR part 263.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$3,280,000 for new awards for the Indian Education--Professional
Development Grant program for FY 2009. The actual level of funding, if
any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting
applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if
Congress appropriates funds for this program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $125,000-$400,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $364,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $400,000 for the first, second, or third 12-month
budget periods. The last 12-month budget period of a 48-month award
will be limited to induction services only, at a cost not to exceed
$90,000. The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal
Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 9.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants for this program are
institutions of higher education, including Indian institutions of
higher education; State educational agencies (SEAs) or local
educational agencies (LEAs) in consortium with an institution of higher
education; Indian tribes or organizations in consortium with an
institution of higher education; and Department of the Interior/Bureau
of Indian Education-funded schools in consortium with an institution of
higher education. LEAs include charter schools that are considered LEAs
under State law.
An application from a consortium of eligible entities must meet the
requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129. An application from a
consortium of eligible entities must submit a consortium agreement,
signed by all parties, with the application. Letters of support do not
meet the requirement for a consortium agreement.
In order to be considered an eligible entity, applicants, including
institutions of higher education, must be eligible to provide the level
and type of degree proposed in the application or must apply in a
consortium with an institution of higher education that is eligible to
grant the target degree.
Applicants applying in consortium with or as an ``Indian
organization'' must demonstrate eligibility by showing how the ``Indian
organization'' meets all requirements of the definition in 34 CFR
263.3.
The term ``Indian institution of higher education'' means an
accredited college or university within the United States cited in
section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994
(7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other institution that qualifies for funding
under the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of
1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Dine College (formerly Navajo
Community College), authorized in the Navajo Community College
Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 640a et seq.).
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
3. Other: Projects funded under this competition are encouraged to
budget for a two-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC
during each year of the project period. In addition, the Department
strongly encourages grantees to begin to provide training by January,
2010.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following
address: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.
To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following:
Education Publications Center, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398.
Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call,
toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also:
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or at its e-mail address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this program or
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competition as follows: CFDA number 299B.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or computer diskette) by contacting the person listed under Accessible
Format in section VIII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant,
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your
application. You must limit the application narrative to no more than
35 pages, using the following standards:
A page is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' margins
at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget
section, including the budget narrative justification; the assurances
and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, the
bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the page limit does
apply to all of the application narrative section.
We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit; or if
you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: January 23, 2009.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 3, 2009.
Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission
Requirements of this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the
application process, the individual's application remains subject to
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 4, 2009.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order
12372 is in the application package for this program.
5. Funding Restrictions: Under 34 CFR 263.4, a project funded under
this program may include, as training costs, assistance to either fully
finance a student's educational expenses or supplement other financial
aid for meeting a student's educational expenses. For the payment of
stipends to project participants receiving training, the Secretary
expects to set the stipend maximum at $1,800 per month for full-time
students and provide for a $300 allowance per month per dependent
during an academic term. The terms ``stipend,'' ``full-time student,''
and ``dependent allowance'' are defined in 34 CFR 263.3. Stipends may
be paid only to full-time students.
We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions
in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the
instructions in this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Applications for grants under the Professional Development Program,
CFDA Number 84.299B, must be submitted electronically using the
Governmentwide Grants.gov application site at http://www.Grants.gov.
Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the
application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit
your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant
application to us.
We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
You may access the electronic grant application for the
Professional Development Program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for
the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA
number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search
(e.g., search for 84.299, not 84.299B).
Please note the following:
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application
if it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system--after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this competition
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to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the
Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission
Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov at
http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must
complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps include
(1) registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes
registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (2)
registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative
(AOR); and (3) getting authorized as an AOR by your organization.
Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step
Registration Guide (see
http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf).
You also must provide on your
application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please
note that the registration process may take five or more business days
to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to
allow you to submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In
addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual
basis. This may take three or more business days to complete.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your
application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms:
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications.
You must attach any narrative sections of your application
as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable
Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file
types specified in this paragraph or submit a password-protected file,
we will not review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification
indicates that the Department has received your application and has
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified
identifying number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date (with the exception of consortium agreements
which must be submitted within the electronic application, if
applicable).
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
With the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk, toll-free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether
your application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application
through the Grants.gov system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
the Grants.gov system; and
No later than two weeks before the application deadline
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application.
If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Lana Shaughnessy, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3E231,
Washington, DC 20202-6335. FAX: (202) 260-7779.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.299B), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
[[Page 4155]]
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.299B), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between
8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays,
Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail
or hand deliver your application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the
Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix
letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your
application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification
of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this
notification within 15 business days from the application deadline
date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application
Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are
from 34 CFR 263.6 and are listed in the application package.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a
final performance report, including financial information, as directed
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an
annual performance report that provides the most current performance
and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent
performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements
on reporting, please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of
the Professional Development program: (1) The percentage of
participants in administrator preparation projects who become
principals, vice principals or other school administrators in LEAs that
enroll five percent or more American Indian and Alaska Native students;
(2) The percentage of participants in teacher preparation projects who
become teachers in LEAs that enroll five percent or more American
Indian and Alaska Native students; (3) The percentage of program
participants who meet the definition of ``Highly Qualified'' in section
9101(23) of the ESEA; (4) The percentage of program participants who
complete their service requirement on schedule; (5) The cost per
individual who successfully completes an administrator preparation
program, takes a position in a school district with at least five
percent American Indian/Alaska Native enrollment, and completes the
service requirement in such a district; and (6) The cost per individual
who successfully completes a teacher preparation program, takes a
position in such a school district with at least five percent American
Indian/Alaska Native enrollment, and completes the service requirement
in such a district.
We encourage applicants to demonstrate a strong capacity to provide
reliable data on these measures in their responses to the selection
criteria ``Quality of project services'' and ``Quality of the project
evaluation.''
All grantees will be expected to submit, as part of their
performance report, information with respect to these performance
measures.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lana Shaughnessy, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3E231, Washington, DC 20202-
6335. Telephone: (202) 205-2528 or by e-mail: Indian.education@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on
request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
Dated: January 15, 2009.
Kerri L. Briggs,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. E9-1263 Filed 1-22-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P